Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-12-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regulsr Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON. Dec 1f 1857

WIN CHARACTERISTIC harness speaker
Carlisle called Mr.. Mills to the chair
this week, and, descending to the
floor, requested the House to choose
the Committee on Elections. This
unusual action was taken on account
of the contest of Thobe against Car.
Isle, upon which this committee is to
pass, and the Speaker declined to have
any voice in the selection of the tri-
bunal which will try the issue, so that,
no matter what the result, he cannot
be charged with manipulating the
Committee in his personal and polit-
ical interests. Some of our Republi-
can extremists favor sending Con
gressional Committee to Kentucky to
have an investigation chiefly for the
purpose of making much needed pol
itical capital. But this can hardly be
done rs the evidence in the contest is
virtually closed and the case will prob
ably be conducted with the regular
formality of judicial proceedings at
the bar Of the House.
As but two of the House Committee
have been appointed, that body has
no: begun its regular work, but in the
meantime, the members are mapping
out much legislation, good deal of it
on the tariff question.
Mr.. Randall is preparing II revenue
bill, looking to $6O,OO0,OOO reduction
of taxation. Mr.. Mills the probable
Chairman Of the Ways and Means
Committee is framing bill, based
upon a reduction OF $50. .O00, 600 in in
ternal revenue taxation and largely
increased free list. 1t is certain that
this measure will be carefully scrutin-
lied by Speaker Carlisle before he
gives it his support. Mr.. Randall's
bill proposes to make an equal re-
duction in tariff duties and internal
taxation. 1t is believed that the
Speaker and the Ex-Speaker will come
to an agreement on tariff reform that
will be generally acceptable to the
Democracy. Why, so widespread is
the conviction that tariff revision is
necessary, that even the Republicans
are working up Il measure to that ef-
feet, so that in the event Of Demo
cratic disschtion, they can take adj
vantage of the situation, rush their
bill through, and steal the enemey's
thunder.
The Senate committees having been
organized this week, that body is
fairly progressing with its work, and !,
shower Of bills has been introduced,
many of them, however, being old to
readers of the Congressional Record.
Among the more important, mention
may he made OF Senator Hoar's bill to
change Inauguration day from March
4th, to April 80. In case it passes,
this bill cannot become law until af-
ter next Inauguration, as the State
Legislatures must first ratiiy the
measure.
Senator Platt has again introduced
his resolution to abolish secret see.
siOns of the Senate, but that dignified
assembly is so jealous of its privileges
and prerogatives, that there is little
probability Of the passage Of such an
act.
Senator Cullom's bill making the
United States Postal Telegraph" a
part OF the postal system OF tho
United States, providing for the con
struction Of some telcgraphic trunk
lines, connecting the principal cities oI
the country, appropriating four million
dollars for the purpose, and regulating
the tariff Of charges, while it is not
without its merits, one of tht
serious objections to its becoming q
law is that there would be an immense
increase in the number of Government
employees. 1t is also claimed by many
that such scheme would>be an in
fringement of States rights and q
dangerous concession to the doctrine
of Federal centralization.
Senator Chandler's bill to" regulate
Congressional elections in the States
OF South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi
and Louisiana by the presence o
Federal marshals and supervisors, j!
the very worst bill of all, and if i
should pass the Senate, would never
become law, because there is n'
valid reason why these States should
be singled out for regulation. Sucl
legislation is worthy of this same "Bill'
Chandler, who was largely instru
mental in stealing the votes of three o
these States for his Fraudulency
Ruthford B. Hayes, who was the frs
and only man to dishonor the Presi
Dental chair. The dissolving Repub
lican party has given proof as strong
as holy writ Of its decadence by spew
ing into the American House of Mil
lionaires Bill Chandler, the sponso
and the brazen beneficiary OF the mon
umental political infamy OF moder1
times. Whom the Gods would
destroy, they first make mad.
Dem.
JAMES Griffith, a well known steam
boat engineer who had resided in Sc
4 attle for many years, and who owned